From what I understand, it was Oscar Brand himself that wrote at least one "American" version. The version Brand sang in 1999 in the video (click) is a tour of the beauties of the U.S. The "American" version in the Rise Up Singing songbook covers battles and Pilgrims escaping slavery. Rise Up Singing was published in 1988 - I have not yet determined the source of that version, and don't know it it's from Oscar Brand or not. I would guess that he must have written the version on the video. Anybody recall what lyrics Brand sang on his radio show? I had the impression that Brand sang "Something to Sing About" at the beginning of every episode of his Saturday night radio show on WNYC, AM 820. Not so. I found a few recordings at http://www.wnyc.org/story/70-years-oscar-brands-folksong-festival/. On these episodes, Brand's opening song was "New York Gals, Won't Ya Come Out Tonight."

-Joe-